Chapter XIV.

How an unclean soul can neither give nor receive
spiritual knowledge.

But it is, as we have
already said, impossible for a novice either to understand or to teach
this. For if one is incapable of receiving it how can he be fit to pass
it on to another? But if he has had the audacity to teach anything on
these matters, most certainly his words will be idle and useless and
only reach the ears of his hearers, without being able to touch their
hearts, uttered as they were in sheer idleness and unfruitful vanity,
for they do not proceed from the treasure of a good conscience, but
from the empty impertinence of boastfulness. For it is impossible for
an impure soul (however earnestly it may devote itself to reading) to
obtain spiritual knowledge. For no one pours any rich ointment or fine
honey or any precious liquid into a dirty and stinking vessel. For a
jar that has once been filled with foul odours spoils the sweetest
myrrh more readily than it receives any sweetness or grace from it, for
what is pure is corrupted much more quickly than what is corrupt is
purified. And so the vessel of our bosom unless it has first been
purified from all the foul stains of sin will not be worthy to receive
that blessed ointment of which it is said by the prophet: “Like
the ointment upon the head, which ran down upon the beard of Aaron,
which ran down upon the edge of his garment,”19081908Ps. cxxxii.
(cxxxiii.) 2. nor will it keep undefiled that spiritual
knowledge and the words of Scripture which are “sweeter than
honey and the honeycomb.”19091909Ps. xviii.
(xix.) 11. “For
what share hath righteousness with iniquity? or what agreement hath
light with darkness? or what concord has Christ with
Belial?”191019102 Cor. vi. 14, 15.